representative gus bilirakis

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) reiterated the need to deny the Republic of Turkey reentry into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, as President Donald Trump meets with the United Nations this week. Bilirakis argued that "rewarding Erdogan's government without meaningful changes in behavior would set a dangerous precedent and weaken the credibility of U.S. foreign […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) is introducing a bipartisan, bicameral bill to protect seniors' access to laboratory testing for new medications. For additional context, the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule is the system by which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) pays for clinical diagnostic lab tests, based on the weighted median of private […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced a bipartisan bill easing Medicare enrollment as more of America's older population ages into eligibility. As explained in Rep. Bilirakis's press release, current Medicare enrollment rules and inadequate notification systems result in people being slapped with application fines, healthcare coverage gaps, and unexpected costs, with an average premium increase […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) spearheaded a bipartisan letter to the State Department urging them to reject the Republic of Turkey's (Turkiye) readmission into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, citing their friendliness to Russia. The Joint Strike Fighter program is an international partnership between the United States and several countries to develop, test, produce, and […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) is introducing a bill improving the transparency of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) prescription practices. Specifically, Rep. Bilirakis's Written Informed Consent Act requires the VA to inform veterans through writing of the potential side effects of drugs such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, stimulants, anxiolytics, and narcotics prescribed through their system. Additionally, a […]

Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) has reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at preventing the phenomenon of "zombie campaigns," which involves the misuse of campaign accounts after an officeholder leaves office as a personal slush fund. Specifically, Rep. Castor's Honest Elections and Campaign, No Gain (HEC No) Act requires all former lawmakers and those no longer seeking […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) is introducing legislation to extend the waiver renewal period on the arms embargo on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus. For additional context, Cyprus was placed under an arms embargo from 1987 to 2020 due to ethnic tensions on the island between its Hellenic (Greek) and Turkish inhabitants. A breakaway government […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) vowed to continue pushing for passage of his Major Richard Star Act in a recent post to X (formerly Twitter). The post responded to a story from Alternet.org describing the plight of the U.S. Army veteran Dan Nevins, who lost two limbs after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated under his […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) was able to have four of his policy proposals included in the so-called "big beautiful bill," saying, "I'm proud of the common-sense approach we've put forth to achieve significant savings while preserving benefits and access to care for our most vulnerable individuals." One piece of legislation is the Leveraging Integrity and […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) is leading a bill introduced by Representative John James (R-MI) that would impose greater accountability on app stores for selling adult-oriented apps to minors. Specifically, the App Store Accountability Act requires companies such as Amazon, Google, Apple, and other app distributors to prevent adult-oriented apps from reaching minors by requiring age […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) celebrated the TAKE IT DOWN Act's passage in the House of Representatives a second time this week in a statement, saying, "I am glad we are one step closer to protecting victims of online sexual exploitation." As we explained in December when it was introduced by Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) was among several members of Congress who celebrated the recent reestablishment of the Longevity Science Caucus, saying, "Increasing life expectancy and promoting positive health outcomes are important priorities." As the name suggests, the Longevity Science Caucus seeks to promote research and policy on aging and biotechnology, allowing Americans to live healthier, […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) has launched the new American-Made Medicine Caucus with Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY). As the name suggests, the Caucus intends to promote policies that would bring the production of medicine and pharmaceuticals back to the United States or friendlier shores, as America has become increasingly dependent on China […]

Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) joined together in a bipartisan bill to permanently ban offshore drilling from Florida's coasts. The aptly named Florida Coastal Protection Act prevents the development of offshore oil and natural gas production in Florida waters, an issue on which both Democrats and […]

State Secretary Marco Rubio recently expressed concern over the developing internal crisis in Turkey following government crackdowns on protesters manifesting against the arrest of a major leader from the political opposition.  The protests erupted after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested for alleged corruption. Protestors claim Mayor Imamoglu was arrested because of his potential to […]

Senator Rick Scott joined a bipartisan effort in the Senate, including Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and 186 members of the House of Representatives such as Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) to reintroduce the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act to ensure full benefits for veterans. The legislation is named after […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced a bipartisan bill redesignating the Republic of Turkey's (Turkiye) designation from an Eurasian country to a Middle Eastern one for diplomatic purposes. Rep. Bilirakis's Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act would require the U.S. State Department to move Turkey's designation from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to the Bureau of […]

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) has introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to improve access to molecular diagnostic testing for rare cancer patients. Named the Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act, Rep. Bilirakis's legislation specifically allows cancer patients on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to receive molecular testing at first diagnosis rather […]